Gresham bakery accused of gay discrimination

Monday, February 04, 2013

The state attorney general is investigating a complaint against a Gresham bakery for refusing to make a cake for a wedding between two women.

Aaron Klein, who has owned the Gresham bakery with his wife, Melissa, for about five years, said Friday the business sells pastries and cakes to customers of all sexual orientations. But same-sex marriage goes against their Christian faith, he said, and they’ve turned down requests in the past to bake cakes for those occasions.

“I believe marriage is a religious institution between a man and woman as stated in the Bible,” Klein said. “When someone tells me that their definition is something different, I strongly disagree. I don’t think I should be penalized for that.”

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-1 #1 reader — Guest 2013-02-04 20:03:04

Doesn't the Bakery have the right to refuse service to anyone? The gay couple can certainly choose not to frequent the Bakery.

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-2 #2 creepy prejudice bad bakers — Guest 2013-02-04 22:12:52

I will never set foot inside their bakery, nor will I recommend them to anyone, gay or straight due to the prejudices and small mindedness of the owners. Maybe applying their limited narrow minded thinking they only sell one vanilla flavor of cake in order to avoid offending others that don't like their flavor choice. Creepy people those owners are.. just awful to think that in today's business environment this couple puts their own prejudices before the needs of the community and consumers. Beware... bad thinking, or mindless at best. I hear their cakes are bad anyways.

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0 #3 No, they don't have right to refuse service. — Guest 2013-02-05 22:05:03

They do not have the right to refuse service to anyone (in Oregon) if its based upon a protected classification- -of which being gay is one along with race, etc. So NO you can't be a racist homophobe and deny services to people as you see fit, legally anyway.

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0 #4 Refusal — Guest 2013-02-07 20:21:47

Personally, I think that the bakery has the right to refuse to perform work. A contractor would, for instance. The bakery doesn't disallow customers entrance to their store. Remember in December 2008 the Campbells wanted a cake baked for their son and BASED UPON the bakery's opinion, their refusal was upheld. The birthday cake was to be personalized to Adolph Hitler Campbell...
Just as that bakery had the right to be offended and not provide the service, this Oregon bakery has the right to put their values and religious beliefs (freedom to practice their religion) ahead of business. People have the right to "vote with the pocketbook" and not go there.

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